2008 Grand National

Punters take in the early morning atmosphere by the statue of Red Rum as Grand National day gets under way

Crowds and bookmakers at Aintree enjoy all the trackside tension and action from the morning races

Anna Perez wins the best dressed racegoer contest at Aintree, presented by Coleen McLoughlin, fiancee of Wayne Rooney

Richard Johnson, later riding Turko in the Grand National, steers Pearl King to victory in the John Smith's Smooth Handicap Hurdle

Meanwhile Ruby Walsh, riding Hedgehunter in the Grand National, survives a fall from Poqulein in the same race

And Denis O'Regan, later riding Bewley's Berry, wins the Maghull Novices Steeple Chase on Tidal Bay as Grand National day warms up

Al Eile jumps the last hurdle and wins the Aintree Hurdle Race being ridden by Timmy Murphy, also riding Comply or Die in the National

JS Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle: National riders Aidan Coleman, on Astarador, and Jason Maguire, on Khachaturian, go head-to-head

Forest Pennant (left), ridden by Ruby Walsh, wins the Extra Cold Handicap Hurdle from William Kennedy on Superior Wisdom

The 40 runners and riders start the 2008 Grand National at Aintree, with Cloudy Lane and Comply or Die 7-1 joint favourites

Comply or Die, ridden by Timmy Murphy, and D'Argent, ridden by Robert Thornton, are making the early running by Becher's Brook

By the open ditch, fence 11, Comply or Die, Snowy Morning, Contraband and Hedgehunter are all part of the leading pack

JR Barry is thrown from No Full, as is Tony McCoy from the much-fancied Butler's Cabin, at Becher's Brook, fence 22

By Canal Turn, fence 24, the race is anybody's from Mon Mome, Comply or Die, Knowhere, Slim Pickings, King Johns Castle, and Simon

Eva Kicermerova falls from Knowhere, as does Dominic Elsworth from Simon, at the second jump of Valentine's Brook

At the front of the runners Comply or Die leads Davey Casey on Snowy Morning over the last fence and heads for the home straight

Comply or Die holds the lead from King Johns Castle's strong challenge to win the 2008 Grand National

Comply or Die wins by four lengths from King Johns Castle, one-and-a-half lengths from Snow Morning, with Slim Pickings fourth

David Russell on Chelsea Harbour congratulates Timmy Murphy, riding Comply or Die, on a great win at Aintree

David Pipe, trainer of Comply or Die, celebrates with the Grand National trophy and his father, Martin, after his horse's win

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